Summer Guide

Welcome to Plattsburgh

September 11, 2013

Lake Champlain is every water lover's dream come true. Its spectacular setting in the shadow of the Adirondack peaks, its gentle breezes and its comfortable temperatures make it hard to resist sailing, boating or windsurfing these waters.

And then there are the uncrowded beaches, the lakeside restaurants, the quaint communities, the historic lighthouses and the full service marinas hugging its 585 miles of magnificent shoreline.

You can even watch for Champy - our legendary cousin of the Loch Ness monster.

Article Photos

Whether you prefer the wind in your sails or the thrill of powerboating, Lake Champlain is perfect! You'll find a string of great marinas and boat launches. And our lake is connected by canal to the Hudson River and New York City to the south and the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes to the north.

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Beneath the surface

Lake Champlain is a diver's paradise, offering all of the underwater beauty of one of North America's most interesting lakes as well as one of America's greatest collections of shipwrecks, dating back to the American Revolution. Our diving services will help you explore this unseen world.

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With pole in hand

As deep at 400 feet in places, Lake Champlain is home to over 60 species of fish, including bass and salmon. Add the hundreds of sparkling lakes, rivers, streams and brooks of the Adirondacks and you have one of the world's greatest fishing destinations!

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On two wheels

We offer some of the finest bicycling anywhere, including a 1,100-mile network known as Lake Champlain Bikeways. It includes a total of 36 loops ranging from 6 to 50 miles, as well as a 350-mile route around the entire lake.

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History for all ages

Lake Champlain welcomed Samuel de Champlain in 1609, who claimed our area for France. It was the beginning of more than 200 years of struggle between France, Britain and the new American notion for control of what would become one of the most strategic corridors of commerce and power in North America.

The Battle of Plattsburgh Bay, the defining battle of the War of 1812, took place on Sept. 11, 1814, at 8:45 a.m. That day began after almost 200 years of peace and friendship with our former enemies.

Plan your visit to coincide with the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration, which takes place each year during the week after Labor Day.

Be sure to see the famous Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake the finest collection of Adirondack artifacts in the region. And learn about the Underground Railroad at John Brown's Farm in Lake Placid. The 1812 Homestead in Willsboro is an authentic working farmstead. Country Dreams Farm offers wagon and sleigh rides, and hands-on experiences of what life was like in the region in the 1830s.

Now a bustling economic development zone called PARC, the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base lies on hallowed ground, dating back to 1776. Other aspects of history in our region are preserved and presented at sites like the Kent-Delord House Museum in Plattsburgh, with exhibits interpreting one family's life in the late-18th through early-20th centuries. The house served as British headquarters during the invasion and occupation of Sept. 6-11, 1812.

The Alice T. Miner Colonial Collection & Museum in Chazy has a world-renowned collection that includes a colonial kitchen, samplers, china, furniture and silhouettes from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Clinton County Historical Association and Museum includes such treasures as one of the rifles awarded to the Aiken's Volunteers, 130 school boys who helped to defend Plattsburgh during the Battle of Plattsburgh.